Battling weeds can feel like an endless, frustrating struggle. However, when armed with the proper knowledge, you can grow a lush, green lawn that’s the envy of the neighborhood.
We share the tools and techniques needed for effectively preventing common lawn weeds, from cultivating healthy soil to using herbicides.
So, say goodbye to unsightly dandelions and crabgrass and hello to a pristine, weed-free lawn that enhances your home!
Regular Lawn Maintenance
Beyond anything else, the best way to keep weeds from sprouting in your lawn is to keep your grass healthy and strong through regular maintenance.
- Mow your lawn regularly, keeping it at the recommended height for your grass type. Most people shear their lawn too short, stressing it and making it more susceptible to weed, insect, and disease problems. In reality, taller grass shades the soil, which helps prevent weed seeds from germinating. The UMass Extension Turf Program states that most turfs should be mowed two to three inches tall.
- Keep your lawn well-watered, but be careful to avoid overwatering. Many weeds thrive in overly wet soils, but they also take advantage of drought-stressed lawns. Weeds are opportunistic and will make their way into your yard if your grass is struggling because it is underwatered.
- Aerate your lawn periodically to improve soil structure and allow better water and nutrient penetration to the roots. Aeration frequency depends on your soil type and how frequently it becomes compacted if it does at all. If you have sandy soil that drains well and never compacts, chances are, you don’t need to aerate it. If you have loamy soil with low to moderate foot traffic, you may be able to aerate once a year or even once every couple of years. Heavy clay soils that compact easily should be aerated yearly, if not more frequently.
- Consider using a dethatching rake or power rake in the spring to remove the built-up thatch, which can harbor weed seeds and prevent grass from growing properly.
Build Up Healthy Soil
Having healthy soil under your grass is also helpful for preventing common lawn weeds.
- Test your soil regularly to check the soil pH and nutrient levels. Yearly is recommended if you’re trying to fix problems, or have concerns; you can drop to every two to three years if the soil is stable and within “normal ranges.” Amend it as necessary to keep it within the recommended pH level.
- Fertilize your lawn based on the soil test results and your grass needs. A healthy, well-fertilized turf better competes with weeds.
Overseed Regularly
As we said, weeds are opportunistic. If your lawn has a bare spot or thin areas, weeds will naturally move into those areas and take over. To prevent that from happening, overseed your lawn regularly to fill in thin or bare areas. Creating a dense, thick turf leaves less room for weeds to establish.
Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides
One of the best ways to prevent common lawn weeds is to use a pre-emergent herbicide.
Pre-emergent weed killers don’t stop weed seeds from germinating; instead, they prevent seedlings from developing roots and pushing through the soil surface. They’re a fantastic way to control annual crabgrass and dandelions.
It’s best to apply a pre-emergent when you have more than five straight days of 50-55°F temperatures. For most northern lawns, this is usually late March or early April. A good rule of thumb is to apply the product when your yard is a sea of yellow because the forsythia bushes are blooming.
Be sure to apply these products according to the manufacturer’s instructions before weed seeds sprout.
Other Lawn Care Practices
- Avoid excessive foot and vehicle traffic on your lawn, especially when the soil is wet. Compacted soil creates ideal conditions for weed growth.
- Edge your lawn regularly to create a clear boundary between your turf and garden beds, sidewalks, and driveways, making it harder for weeds to creep.
- Mulch garden beds to minimize weeds from growing there. Fewer weeds in your garden and flower beds means less chance they’ll move into your lawn.
Need Help Preventing Common Lawn Weeds?
We get it. Sometimes, lawn care doesn’t fit your schedule or isn’t your favorite thing to do. In that case, you can turn to us!
Molloy Lawn & Landscape offers various services, including lawn fertilization, weed treatments, and mosquito and tick control. Now is the perfect time to get on our schedule for this coming season!
If you need help preventing common lawn weeds and are interested in our high-quality services, contact our friendly front office team by email or phone during business hours.
Our comprehensive array of lawn care, landscape maintenance, hardscaping services, and snow removal are available for homeowners and businesses in a seven-mile radius surrounding Milton, Massachusetts, including Hyde Park, Dorchester, Braintree, and Quincy.
